Pakistan wins UNHRC seat

Pakistan on Monday won a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by more than two thirds vote when the General Assembly elected 15 countries to serve on the 47-member body.

Pakistan was elected for the term 2018-20. The election in the 193-member Assembly was by secret ballot, with a simple majority required.

Pakistan polled 151 votes, when 97 were needed.

"Pakistan is humbled by and grateful for the overwhelming support it received from the world community. The election is a ringing endorsement of Pakistan's strong commitment to human rights," Pakistan's Representative to UN, Maleeha Lodhi was quoted by Daily Pakistan, as saying.

"Pakistan's membership to this council demonstrates a strong vote of confidence of the international community in our role and contribution to the national and global human rights agenda," The Tribune quoted Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria as saying.

There were five candidates contesting for four Asia-Pacific seats on the Council. Apart from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Qatar also won seats on the Council. Malaysia, with 129 votes, could not get elected.

The contest was only in the Asian-Pacific group. Other groups put up agreed candidates: (African States)- Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Senegal; (Latin America/Caribbean States): Chile, Mexico and Peru; (Western European States): Australia and Spain, and (Eastern European States): Slovakia and Ukraine.